Blocking device for use with cup receptacles

Abstract

The invention relates to blocking device for use with a receptacle for cups pilable in each other. Upon discharge of the lowest cup, the next lowest cup is blocked. The blocking device is pivotable about a vertical axis and is provided with a curved surface or edge so shaped and positioned that upon the discharge of the lowest cup from the receptacle, the collar of said cup slides on the curved surface or edge and causes a rotation of the blocking device in a horizontal direction inwardly below the collar of the next lowest cup. After this occurs, a spring causes the blocking device to return to its normal position.

We claim: 
     
       1. Blocking means for use with a receptacle for cups pilable in each other and having an external collar, bead or the like, said blocking means being positioned at the discharge opening of the receptacle and including a blocking body having two spaced apart blocking surfaces, one of said surfaces being arranged for holding in a normal position all cups in the receptacle and forming a slide surface for the collar of the outermost cup in said receptacle when said outermost cup is being discharged from said receptacle through said discharge opening, said slide surface being, during the discharge of each of the cups, displaced outwardly laterally of the discharge direction, and the second blocking surface upon the displacement of the slide surface being arranged to be displaced inwardly inside of the collar of the next adjacent cup before this next cup reaches said second blocking surface, said blocking body being provided with spring means, against the action of which the blocking surfaces are displaced and which returns the blocking body to said normal position after a cup being discharged has left the slide surface, said blocking body being mounted for rotation about an axis extending substantially parallel to the discharge direction, and said slide surface from the abutment thereof against the collar in the normal position extending at an acute angle to the discharge direction and successively changing in direction to an orientation which is more and more parallel to the discharge direction. 
     
     
       2. Blocking means according to claim 1, wherein said second surface extends substantially perpendicular to the discharge direction. 
     
     
       3. Blocking means according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said spring means holds in said normal position the blocking surfaces with prestressing force. 
     
     
       4. Blocking means according to claim 3, including a bearing body disposed adjacent to said blocking body, said spring means comprising a helical spring arranged about said axis and having its opposite ends attached to said bearing body and said blocking body, respectively.